Derived forms

Word origin of 'false'

Old English fals, from Latin falsus, from fallere to deceive

false for learners of EnglishPowered by COBUILD (fɔːls)

Definitions

1. adjective

If something is false, it is incorrect, untrue, or mistaken. ⇒ It was quite clear the President was being given false information by those around him. ⇒ You do not know whether what you're told is true or false. ⇒ His sister said he had deliberately given the hospital a false name and address.

falselyadverb [ADV with v] ⇒ ...a man who is falsely accused of a crime.

falsity (fɔːlsɪti)uncountable noun [oft theNof n] ⇒ ...with no clear knowledge of the truth or falsity of the issues involved.

2. adjective [usu ADJ n]

You use false to describe objects which are artificial but which are intended to look like the real thing or to be used instead of the real thing. ⇒ ...the items she'd secreted in the false bottom of her suitcase. ⇒ ...a set of false teeth. ⇒ I was wearing false eyelashes and a sweater two sizes too small.

3. graded adjective & adjective

If you describe a person or their behaviour as false, you are criticizing them for being insincere or for hiding their real feelings. [disapproval] ⇒ She bowed her head and smiled in false modesty. ⇒ 'Thank you,' she said with false enthusiasm. ⇒ Even to himself the geniality rang false and he came to a stop.

Example sentences containing 'false'

Without thinking, I set a hand to the false swordscar on my lower back.Robin Hobb THE GOLDEN FOOL: BOOK TWO OF THE TAWNY MANHe managed to keep his own noseclean, because the sweatshops were always set up using false names and creditreferences.Val McDermid THE LAST TEMPTATIONYour theory of a false suicide falls apart on one simple fact.Elizabeth Peters LION IN THE VALLEY